Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-21
RAPID CITY'S BIG REFORM"
The Beginning of Change Shows Up in
That Booming Place.
A LIQUOR SELLERS BOYCOTT.
They Refuse to Patronize the Elec-
trio Light Company Because of
Temperance Stockholders
The School of Mines.
Black Hills (sossip.

into Rapid City, but in that time revo.
luton has been wrought in the COM
mercal, social, political and moral as.
poets of the place. | take space now to
refer to but one sign of these changes,
but a recent and striking onc-one that
possibly may become the pivot of events
rs dramatic as those that have torn up
Sioux City. There has just been declared
liquor sellers boycott against the Rapid
City Electric Light company. Ten lamps
(all that were in liquor stores ard those
in the Continental hoteD were ordered
out on Monday and the following day the
dry goods store of |. Morris e. Co., the
drug store of Evans & Mattcson and
Sweeney's hardware store followed suit.
The reason assigned by such of the boy
cotters as have declared the casus belli is
the temperance principles and preach
Ings of the principal stockholders and Of
ficcrs of the electric light company.
chiefly, y. l.. Cooper, the presi-
dent, and DIR. V. T. McGill-
cuddy (he of the Pine Ridge Indian
agency fame) Enquiry among the dis
satisfied liquor sellers fails to de-
velop any charge of overt acts
of treason to king alcohol on
the part of these gentlemen; it is averred
only that they (the whisky mem will not
patronize an institution run by prohibi-
tionists. The few temperance men in the
electric light company, while dlsclaiming
prohibition designs, declare that this is
not boycott for injuries done or threat
ened by them, but a persecution for prin-
ciples' sake; and that they will sooner
close the works entirely than recant
under the dictaton. They say they can
stand it to let their works lie idle if the
town can stand the advertisement to the
world that its electric light system was
extinguished at the dictaton of u few
rum.sellers and gamblers.
The real source OF this contention,
however, lies deeper than the the inter-
ests of these contestants, and relates to
the radical changes gong on in this COM
munity since the event OF steam clviliza-
ton. 1t was with the cars that the arri-
val of new order Of immigrants gave to
the temperance element here, long
latent, sufficient force to impel active
propagandism. Mrs. Barker, organizer
of the w. G. T. U., then came--like Paul
and Silas to Thessalonlca-to turn the
world upside down here also. She organ
it has since continued in full
vigor, singing. praying and giving
socials and picnlcs as the manner
of women reformers is, but inducing very
little swearing off, 80 far as appears.
Moreover, they secured the teaching of
physiology and the effects of alcohol in
the city schools, and they have opened
and supported free reading room
offenses somewhat after the order of those
for which Jack Cade chopped off Says
head, saying: Thou hast traitorously
corrupted the youth of the realm by caus-
ing printing to be used"
About the close of last year the liquor
cIo >f Iafa
They petltioned the mayor and council
for a reduction of the license fee from
$500 to $500. Although Il confident at
tache of the saloons declared that when
1t came to a count of noses that body
wasn't gong back on their constituents"
1t turned out different. A remonstrance,
instigated by the temperance people, but
decisively backed by the heavy taxpayers
and business men, controlled the council
and the liquor sellers quit losers. The
present boycott is a continuance OF that
struggle and an effort to get even. The
next step will probably be law and
order league to strictly enforce the license
law and take away the licenses of all vio
lators, which, under present practices.
would outlaw every liquor seller in town.
And then, if martyr is wanted to SOW
the seed of the temperance church, we
have one in training in the person of
'Uncle jack Wood, who goes abou:
crank. So you see we have all the ingre-
dients of great reform" here. The
local papers are energetically silent re-
garding this matter. "lt would hurt the
town to have it published. Possibly
their reticence is as discreet and inter
ested as Mark Twain non -committalism
on the doctrine of future rewards and
punishments, because he 'had friends in
both placesH'
But wise man Of this town said to me,
with one optic closed: my son, shut
your mouth and hear the conclusion of
the whole matter. That boycott is all
bosh. These kickers are so dashed hard
up that they can't pay for the lights, and
they are making virtue OF necessity. 1t
is impecuniosity, not wrath against the
temperance men, that ails them"
THE DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES
was inaugurated here yesterday. 1t is
two years since the territorial legislature
constituted and appropriated for this in
stitution, and year since the building
was put up, but the opening of the school
has been put of until now because no
suitable head could be found for it, 1t
has been the hope and intent to make
this school of and in the mines, and the
men OF requisite technical scholarship,
OF practical experience and teaching
capacity are few, and hard to get for a
moderate salary, when engineering and
assaylng pay so well. The trustees al
last blundered upon Prof. f, X. Carpen
ter, a prophet in their own country, and
chose him dean. II his executive powc,
ranks with his scientific attainments, his
mining experience and his pedagogical
abilities, he and the school will be II pro
nounced success. The other instructors
are well versed scientifically, how wei
practically remains to be demonstrated
The selection of Judge Moody, of Dead
wood, as lecturer on mining law is 8
good choice, ! Judge; and there Is nC
question about the need of his ripe in
struction in a section in which and at {
time when the law regulating mines anC
mining is SO little known that not on.
prospector anu owner in ten knows wher
his assessment work ought to be done t,
hold claim.
The exercises yesterday were simpl,
and in good taste. A brief professional
address by Prof. Carpenter, an historical
and eulogistic one by G. l.. Wood, i'm
promptu speeches and side lights o
music and prayer made up the pro
gramme. The trouble begins on Mon
day with class of thirty. Tuition i
free, and if they keep politics, whisk'
and lncsI iaalpusips out of the MANAGE